Ten days after the general election, Arizona's medical marijuana ballot measure appears to be headed toward passage as Maricopa County election officials race to finish counting early and provisional ballots.

Just before 6 p.m. Friday, the Secretary of State's Office reported the measure was leading by more than 4,000 votes. It was the first time the measure had more yes votes than no votes since the ballot tally began Nov. 2.

Maricopa County will count outstanding provisional ballots through the weekend if necessary despite a state law that generally says all vote tallying must be completed by Friday, officials said.

A measure to legalize medical marijuana in Arizona is still trailing but the gap is closing.

U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl led a group of Republican officials Wednesday denouncing a ballot measure that would allow medical marijuana.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Oct. 20 that she opposes a November ballot measure that would legalize medical marijuana in the state, arguing that it would cause pot to "needlessly and harmfully proliferate."